Duplex feeding mechanism for eyelets, &amp;c.



'.F. L. HARMON.

DUPLEX FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EYELETS, 8a:-

m a w U m@ w; H M r m dm ml P if APPLlCATlDN FILED SEPT. 7. 1915- 1,302,794.

F. L. HARMON. DUPL EX FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EYELETS,&c.

APPLICATION FILED sEPt. 1. 194,5.

Patented May 6-, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 2 /12/114 A. //a/'/mm @aJw/w adjusting the channel race-way to eyelets of UNITE STATES PATENT o EioE.

FRANK L. HARMON, or BEVERLY, MnssAcnusE'rTs, ASSIGNOR To SINGER. MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, or ELIZABETH, NEW JEEsEY, A conronn'rron on NEW JERSEY.

DUPLEX FEEDING MECHANISM Eon EYELE'I'S, 8w.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mj 6 1919 Application filed September 7, 1915. Seria1No.49,333.

To all whom z'tmay concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. HARMoN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Beverly, county of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Duplex Feeding Mechanisms for Eyelets, &c., of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts in each of the several views.

This invention relates to mechanism for feeding from a hopper or magazine, eyelets or like articles composed of a body orstem portion with aflange head at one end thereof. More especially the invention hasto do with mechanism for feeding eyelets from a magazine or hopper into race-ways of an eyeleting machine by which the eyelets are delivered to the eyeleting mechanism in double lines with the eyelets of the two lines facing in opposite directions. A principal object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism whereby a rapid and eiiective continuone feed of the eyelets into each of the two oppositely disposed eyelet lines is insured. A

further object is to provide improved means whereby one part of the eyelets from the magazine hopper is delivered thence into the receiving portion of gravity channels, resting then upright on their flange heads, and gradually turned by the changing course of such channel until they are inverted with their flangeheads on top as required for the upper eyelet raceway. A still further object is to provide improved means for accurately difl'erent sizes whereby the eyelets may slide freely but still be properly guided in that.

part of the race-way where they are turned from upright to inverted position. A still further object is to provide improved means for establishing eyelet lines leading to the respective race-ways, as the eyelets are delivered thereto from the hopper by a'suitable agitating'mechanism. The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be thereafter claims.

Referring to the drawings:

pointed out in the appended Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention,

looking in the direction of the arrow 00 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 2 is an end view of the apparatus looking in'the direction of the arrow a of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective detailshowing the delivery end of the race-way extremity;

Fig. 4 is a similar detail in elevation of the lower raceway extremity;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the portion of the upper race-way wherethe eyelets are inverted;

Fig. 6 is a similar perspective showing the core portion ofthe device of Fig. 5 with the flange late removed;

Fig. is a plan view of the apparatus lookingin the direction of the arrow (1 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse section approximately on line 88 of Fig. 1. i

A suitable upright support 1 is provided with a bracket extension 2 to which is secured a magazine hopper 3 of generally cylindrical form. From one side of this hopper, eyelet race-ways extend diagonally downward, an

upper race-way being indicated at 4 and the lower race-way at 5, each having an adjust able side P and 5 respectively. The downward incline of these race-ways is such that y the eyelets will slide freely downward therein by gravity and the magazine hopper 3 is also inclined at a like angle to facilitate the discharge of the eyelets. The magazine 3 is also inclined in a plane transverse of the race-ways, sloping downward toward the side from which the race-ways lead as best seen in Fig. 2 at an angle so that the eyelets hopper. The hopper 8 is divided by an intermediate floor or partition 6 into an upper portion which delivers eyelets into the upper race-way and a lower portion for delivering eyelets into the lower race-way, the floor 6 as well as the base of the lower hopper portion will slide by gravity toward that side of the lower hopper portions to initiate eyelet lines in the receiving ends of the race-ways, rotary brushes 7, 8 are mounted on a shaft 9 journaled concentrically of the hopper, these brushes operating adjacent the base of the respective hopper portions asseen in Fig. 1. The shaft 9 is driven to rotate the brushes in any suitable manner shown as by a belt ulley lO-fixed thereto on which operates a elt 11 passing over idlers 12 to a driving pulley 13 The upper and lower portions of the hopper 3 respectively'may be filled with eyelets through sleeves 14, 15' extending upward from the upper end ofthe hopper equipped with removable cover ends 16.

The receiving ends of the upper and lower eyelet race-ways are formed as approximately quadrantal channels 17 into which the eyelets slide by gravity and are swept by the brushes 7 8; For insuring the initiation of a continuous eyelet line in the channels 17, 18, the entrance thereto from the hopper is guarded by spaced apart pins or posts 19, the distance between these being such as to permit a single eyelet to slide therebetween freely while preventing any tendency of the eyelets to bunch or clog upthe-passage by irregular or diagonal movements, the spaced pins 19 causing theeyelets topass into the channel 17 in a substantially radial direction to initiate and fill gaps in the eyelet line as it is formed. It will be understoodthat the eyelets tend naturally to arrange themselves resting on their flange heads as they are delivered into the race-ways because the flange head is the larger and heavier part of the eyelet with a relatively wide base and thus the described mechanism is sufficient for su'pffl'ying and transmitting an eyelet line to the lower race-way'5 with the eyelets standing upright therein in proper position for delivery to the operating mechanism of the eyeleting machine. For delivering the eyelet line in the upper race-way 4: with the flange'heads thereof 'on top and the eyelets facing downward, special means is required to invert the eyelets as they'pass from the hopper to the dischargi'ng'end of the raceway; For this purpose I provide a reversingdevice indicated at 20. This device is of cylindrical form equipped with a spiral channel 21 which connects with the delivery endof the quadrantal channel '17 and extends substantially through a semi-circle connecting'to discharge into the race-way 4 proper. The length of the cylindrical eyelet inverting member 20 is such that the spiral channel 21 therein follows an easy curve permitting the eyelets to slide freely therealong. This inverting member 20 is composed of a body or core portion 22 having the base portion 23 of the spiral channel 21 which receives the flange heads of the eyelets, formed therein. To this core 22 are adjustably fixed flange plates 24. 25, the adjustrrient thereof'being provided by extended slots 26 therein through which pass thescrews 27 whichsecure said plates to the core being received into threaded holes 28' therein These adjustable plates-24:, 25 have cotiperative spiral edges 29, 30 following the curve of'the spiral channel 23 and extending thereover at each sidesufliciently to retain the eyelets by their flange heads while permitting the body portion of the eyelets to extend through the space between such plates; Thus the eyelets are delivered into the upper race-way'4: with their flange heads upward so that they are delivered to operative position in a line facing downward and oppositely to the eyelets of the lower line as required. For retaining the eyelets yieldingly at the delivery ends of the race-ways 4, 5 and permitting them to be picked therefrom by the eyeleting mechanism, the extremities of the respective race-ways are formed of yielding spring tongues 31, 32 bent laterally to substantially a right angle" at the delivering extremity and presenting an open hook end 33 from which the eyelets may be drawn when engaged by an element of the setting instrumentality. The invention as to its various features of construction may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, andI therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than tothe foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:- p

1. Apparatus for feeding eyelets or the like, comprising a single hopper divided into an upper and a lower portion for holding a supply of eyelets and a race-way leading from each of said portions at an incline for the eyelets to slide bygravity, one of said race-ways being formed and arranged to initiate an eyelet line with the eyelets substantially upright and to deliver the same upright, and another race-way having a receiving portion adapted to initiate an eyelet line substantially upright, with another portion along which the eyelets are adapted to slide'by gravity arranged to invert the eyelets, and still another portion adapted to deliver the eyelet line so inverted and facing oppositely to the eyelets in the first named race-way.

2. Apparatus for feeding eyelets or the like, comprising a magazine hopper divided into upper and lower portions and a raceway leading from each of said portions, one of said race-ways being formed and arranged to initiate an eyelet line from said hopper with the eyelets substantially upright and to deliver the same upright. and the other race-way having a portion adapted to receive the eyelets substantially upright from said hopper. with another portion formed to invert the eyelets, and still another portion arranged to deliver the eyelet line inverted and opposite the eyelets in the first named race-way.

3. Apparatus for feeding eyelets or the like-, comprising a magazine hopper divided into upper and lower portions, each equipped with means to agitate the eyelets therein, an inclined race-way leading from said lower portion adapted to initiate an eyelet line with the eyelets substantially upright and to deliver them substantially upright, and a second race-way arranged to receive the eyelets from the upper part of said hopper having an intermediate portion formed to invert the eyelets, and a delivery portion adapted to present the eyelet line facing oppositely to the eyelets inthe first mentioned race-way.

4-. Apparatus for feeding eyelets or the like, comprising means for holding a supply of eyelets, and an inclined race-way leading therefrom down which the eyelets are adapted to slide by gravity, said race-way having a receiving portion arranged to receive the eyelets substantially upright, and another portion adapted to invert the eyelets, said inverting portion consistin in a member formed with an undercut splral channel extending through substantially a half circle,

- and means for adjusting the width of the neck of said spiral channel.

5. Apparatus for feeding eyelets or the like, comprising means for holding a supply of eyelets, and an inclined race-way leading therefrom down which the eyelets are adapted to slide by gravity, said race-way having a receiving portion arranged to receive the eyelets substantially upright, and another portion adapted to invert the eyelets, said inverting portion consisting in a member having a cylindrical core with a spiral groove formed therein extending through substantially a half circle, and flange plates adjustably fitted to said core to overhang said groove variable amounts according to the size of the eyelets being handled.

6. Apparatus for feeding eyelets or the like, comprising a magazine hopper, an inclined race-way arranged in eyelet receiving relation at one side thereof, said hopper having a slope lengthwise of said race-way suflicient to cause the eyelets to slide by gravity down into the race-way, and having also a slope crosswise thereof toward the side from which the race-way leads suiiicient to cause the eyelets to slide by gravity to such raceway, and means for agitating the eyelets in said hopper to initiate an eyelet line in said raceway.

7. Apparatus for feeding eyelets or the like, comprising a magazine hopper, a raceway leading therefrom having a receiving portion curved about the periphery of said hopper with spacing members guarding the entrance to said receiving portion adapted to cause the eyelets to pass therebetween sing] y and directly into the race-way to form an eyelet line, and means for agitating the eyelets in said hopper to cause them to enter said race-way, said hopper having a slope toward the side to which the receiving end of said race-way is fitted and also having a slope lengthwise of the race-way such as to cause the eyelets to move by gravity toward said side and down into the racewav.

8. Apparatus for feeding eyelets or the like, comprising a magazine hopper having a flat floor, an inclined raceway arranged in eyelet receiving relation at one side thereof, said floor having a slope lengthwise of said race-way sufficient tocause the eyelets to slide by gravity down into the race-way and having also a slope crosswise thereof toward the side from which the race-way leads suflicient to cause the eyelets to slide by gravity to such race-way, and means for agitating the eyelets resting on said floor to initiate an eyelet line in said race-way.

9. Apparatus for feeding eyelets or the like, comprising a cylindrical hopper with a flat floor, an inclined race-way arranged in eyelet receiving relation at one side thereof, said floor having aslope both lengthwise and crosswise .of said raceway sufiicient to cause the eyelets to slide by gravity to such race-way, and a rotating agitator mounted to operate in said hopper to initiate an eyelet line in said race-way.

10. Apparatus for feeding eyelets or the like, comprising a magazine hopper having an intermediate floor to divide the same in two compartments, a race-way leading from each compartment, said floor and the bottom of said hopper each sloping both lengthwise and crosswise of said race-ways sufficient to cause the eyelets to slide by gravity to such race-ways, and means operable in proximity to said floor and also to the hopper bottom for agitating the eyelets to initiate eyelet lines in said race-ways.

11. Apparatus for feeding eyelets or the like, comprising a cylindrical hopper having a flat bottom and an intermediate flat floor dividing the same'into two compartments, race-ways leading from one side of each of said compartments, said hopper being in clined both lengthwise of said race-ways and crosswisethereof sufficient to cause the eyelets to slide by gravity to said race-ways, and means for agitating the eyelets in each of said compartments to initiate and continue eyelet lines in said race-ways.

name to this specification.

FRANK L. HARMON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. i 

